Let’s Cook Up a Blackjack Tournament Strategy

I remember my first intergalactic tournament; oh it was a blast! Ten galaxies, 15 planets, and 10,000 participants, from Froglegs-Wingarms people out of Xylomia, all the way to Greddians from Spertera. Of course, I was there with Zuzu and Space Cat. I didn’t finish first (you just can’t beat Mister Blackjackian!), but I had a whale of a time! And now it’s your turn to do the same.

Many online casinos provide online blackjack tournaments for their beloved players, and there are a number of tournaments that they can participate in. What’s important if you want to know how to win is that you’re not gonna just be playing against the dealer; but also against your competitors! So if you’re not fully confident just yet, my advice is that you stick with Earthlings for the time being.

You’ll have to make an effort to learn a few things if you want to be a good player. There is some information here about some basic strategies and useful tips you might want to use while competing, so stay tuned as I bring you this in the following paragraphs.

But before you go on reading, take a look at the differences between Tournament Blackjack and Casino Blackjack.

How Does a Blackjack Tournament Work?

The first thing you should know is what a tournament in Blackjack looks like. It is a big event which takes place at online casinos, as well as land-based ones; and many players can participate. In general, these tournaments last two to three days. If you’re going intergalactic though, they can take several lobians (which, oddly enough, would still be just a few days; sometimes space-time can be messed up, outside the Milky Way! When signing up at a certain casino, players have to pay an entry fee if they want to participate in the tournament. However, there are some that don’t require any fee; however, such events commonly do require an invitation.

There are several tournaments in Blackjack out here for players to compete in the rules and payouts might differ from casino to casino, and indeed from planet to planet! Therefore, it’s imperative that all the players read the Blackjack tournament rules and the tournament outline before paying the entry fee.

During the tournament, every single player starts the game with the same number of chips. Unlike the classic Blackjack game you can find in the casinos, the players don’t just play against the house; in fact, they also compete against each other in order to win some amazing prizes at the end. In a nutshell, the player who has the most chips in whatever form at the end of the game is the winner.

Many players enjoy the different gameplay that tournaments provide, and it can also be a less expensive way for you to learn the basics of the game; since you only have to pay the entry fee, after all! By doing this, you will be able to play with a lot of chips and see how people handle their cards.

How to Play in a Blackjack Tournament

Look for a Tournament in Which You Want to Participate and Sign Up

For starters, you have to look for a tournament that suits your preferences as a player. While deciding this, your main task is to read thoroughly about the type of the tournament you choose to play. Some tournaments in space include having to down a glass of alien scute; and trust me, no prize is worth that!

When you finally settle on what tournament you want to compete in, you just need to sign up. If you’re in a land-based casino, you will have to exchange your cash into chips. On the other hand, if you pick some online casino, all you have to do is to register at the casino and deposit your money. Then, the next thing you should do is to pay the entry fee. Afterwards, you will receive some chips which you can use in the game, and all players have the same number of them.

Match the Initial Bet of Other Players

Once you sit down at the table to compete in a Blackjack tournament, the game can start when all the players have placed their bets. Individuals who want to start playing need to match the bets of the competition. When you’ve done all of that, the dealer will start giving the cards to every player.

Wisely Choose Your Move

Now that you’ve received your hand combination, you’ll have to choose the move you want to make to win the round. Just like in the classic Blackjack, you can opt for “Stand,” “Hit,” and “Split.” Also, in certain tournaments, players have the possibility to use “Surrender” or “Doubling down.” In any case, it’s advisable to read the rules of the tournament you’ve chosen.

Wait for the Results of the Round

When the first round of the tournament is over, those players who have obtained the most chips will progress to the next round, and all other players will be eliminated from the competition. If some players haven’t collected enough chips to place a minimum bet, they will be eliminated as well. Again, if you’re just starting out, better go for an online tournament! The fuel cost back to Earth is not a fun reading to take afterwards…

Let’s See Who the Winner Is

Once all the rounds of the tournament have been played, the winner will be declared. Usually, someone just says, “this is the winner.” And this is often pretty underwhelming! After the winner is known, they will receive the prize — and that is a good old bag o’ cash!

Types of Blackjack Tournaments

As we have already said above, there are several kinds of Blackjack tournaments you can find online, and here’s the list:

1. Traditional Elimination Blackjack Tournament

This one is likely the most popular type of tournament that you can play — Traditional Elimination Blackjack. While playing at these tournaments, players generally compete against other gamblers at the blackjack table. Namely, the players who win are progressing, whilst others who aren’t so lucky are eliminated! In certain tournaments, you are able to get a free rebuy and enter the game again.

2. Non-Elimination or Accumulation Tournament

Over the course of this type of tournament, the players play against all the other gamblers, with the objective of winning the most chips after several rounds. There’s a leaderboard, and there you can find the names of the players who are leading in the tournament. If you’re at a Gleproptian casino, they have those long-legged Zweebs shouting the scores out. So the players can easily see how much money they need in order to outpace the leaders.

3. Elimination Blackjack Tournament

There was an Ultimate Blackjack Tournament (a tiny TV show which was watched only on Earth) which featured Elimination Blackjack Tournament; and from that time onward it has become very popular. Usually, in this kind of tournament, those gamblers who have the lowest amount of chips after the eighth, sixteenth, twenty-fifth, and thirtieth round are eliminated from the competition.

4. Live Blackjack Tournament

If players want to participate in Live Blackjack, every single partaker has to buy chips in order to begin playing. In contrast to other tournaments, gamblers in these kinds of tournaments use chips that represent real money. Therefore, if you choose to wager the maximum betting amount in the tournament, you are going to put your own money at risk while betting, and not the chips.

5. Major Blackjack Tournament

Major Blackjack Tournament usually takes place in land-based casinos over the weekends, and the main part of this type of tournament lasts from one to two days. In general, players can obtain large cash prizes in a Major Blackjack Tournament.

6. Mini Blackjack Tournament

In land-based casinos, gamblers can compete in Mini Blackjack Tournaments; and these are usually held on a weekly basis. As the name clearly indicates, if you want to join, then you need to pay an entry fee which is usually fairly low. Also, the prizes are pretty small, and typically don’t go over $2,000; often, they are less.

7. Sit ’N’ Go Tournament

This type of tournament is mostly offered by online casinos. In general, this tournament carries on as long as there are six players at the virtual table.

8. Freeroll Blackjack Tournaments

Freeroll Tournaments are exactly what you think — there’s no entry fee for this one! However, there are some prizes that could be good for your pocket; still, they aren’t as high as in regular Blackjack Tournaments. Usually, casinos provide this type of tournament for regular gamblers and potentially new clients.

9. Satellite Tournaments

Players who want to participate in these tournaments shouldn’t expect real money if they score a win. Ultimately, players want to enter tournaments that offer big prizes by competing in this one.

10. Stephophlams

From what I’ve seen so far, these are not offered on Earth. Stephophlams are a type of blackjack tournaments where you need to take a shot of stephophlam every time you win a round. The person with the most stephophlam in their stephostomach wins in the end. The reward is usually your own weight in saronite; or, weirdly, a Russell Crowe action figure.

History of Blackjack Tournaments

The first blackjack tournament happened right on my planet! Yes, you should applaud that. It was seven million years ago, and the winner was the legendary Bibu, who we still celebrate. You’d think he’d still be around (after all, it was only seven million years ago, it feels like yesterday); but the fame got to him, and he started knocking about with Charlie Sheen. Nobody ever survives that!

But back here on Earth, Sahara Hotel and Casino was one of the first hosts of Blackjack tournaments. In 1978, in the Sahara Casino, the first tournament took place, and this is still the main player in Vegas Blackjack. When the tournaments first commenced, each player had to pay an entry fee of $250; and on top of this, there was also a $500 buy-in. Most prominent players have been gathering in the Sahara to play Blackjack, and this casino still organizes the tournaments!

Apart from the tournaments that it holds, Sahara Casino organizes other events for fans of Blackjack; for instance, tables where the minimum bet has to be $1.

Are There Any Online Tournaments?

These days, players can participate in a plethora of games when they visit the casino; and Blackjack is most certainly one of them! But with so many online casinos to explore, blackjack players generally don’t spend too much time searching for the game they want to play. Also, it’s good for them because they can enjoy their games whenever they want. But online gaming is not the only thing that’s available to them. There are some Blackjack tournaments for them to enjoy as well!

There are several types of tournaments which all differ in terms of the rules you have to follow; so players should choose the version they like and start playing. One thing is certain — you’re sure to have a truly unforgettable time!

How to Use Online Blackjack to Develop Strategies

If you’re thinking of devising a strategy in order to win at an online Blackjack tournament, you need to achieve two things. The first one is to beat the dealer, and the next one is to win against the other players in a tournament.

We suggest sticking to your basic Blackjack strategy if you plan on beating the dealer. However, there might be times when you’ll required to do something that you hadn’t planned for.

Winning against the other players in a tournament requires you to adhere closely to your betting strategy. If it just so happens that you’re the leader of a tournament, then you should bet carefully and reasonably, so you can save your seat. But if it’s the other way around, and you are not winning, we suggest betting the maximum, and maybe opting for doubling down and splitting. This is a recipe you should follow if you want to be a winner.

Blackjack Tournament Strategy

It’s really crucial to strictly follow the basic strategy if you want to partake in Blackjack tournaments. You should read every possible situation you can encounter, so you don’t get surprised. No doubt you’ll be able to win a round when you get a perfect hand combination; even if you have some questionable decisions. That type of playing isn’t going to bring you a lot of wins, and you’re going to lose a bunch of times! So if you desire to avoid this and to end up with some serious profits, we advise you to apply the basic strategy, so you can get an advantage over your competitors.

One strategy commonly seen during Blackjack tournaments is that some players play it safe for the first three quarters of the tournament, and then afterwards, they change the plan and go into the offensive in the last part. That will force other players, who use the same strategy, to bust prior to betting all their money in the last round. But there is one slight complication with this strategy. In cases where the dealer busts many times during a tournament, you could possibly end up with a lot of chips at a time when you should be aggressive. So it’s wise to modify your strategy as you play, because of different scenarios that can happen.

Another strategy players employ relates to wagering. I.e., they sit back and watch how their opponents are betting and then decide to place the maximum wager only once. The aim of this is to be the one still leading at the table when the action approaches the final few hands.

During the last round, other players are pressured into betting more than they would usually do. If you’re the leader, then you can rest easy in the knowledge that, no matter how much other people wager, you will be able to place an equal bet. In addition, if you’re the one to wager before others, then you can persuade them to put down all of their chips or resort to the maximum bet so that they could keep up with you.

Both of these strategies depend on the final hands during the competition. Between this and some sensible chip management, you might manage to significantly increase your chances of winning during a blackjack tournament.

Blackjack Tournament Rules

As we’ve already established here, there are different kinds of tournaments out there; so if you want to participate, we advise you to read what a certain tournament entails, so that you can make sure you have a clearer picture.

There are casinos where many players decide to participate and where the fees are higher, just like the prizes. Conversely, there are casinos that offer lower fees, but not so many players choose to play there; maybe because the prizes are not that high!

The tournament consists of three rounds; and in order to join, players have to pay an entrance fee of around five dollars. In the first round, there are approximately 100 players, who are divided into separate tables. In some tournaments, players start with 5,000 dollars in chips; and after eight rounds of Blackjack, the top 50 players go into the following round.

The second round is played in a similar way. The difference is that the players begin the game with 7,500 dollars, so you can bet on higher amounts. There is a high level of unpredictability, since there are only going to be only seven players in the next round.

In the final round, the participants begin with 10,000 dollars.

Blackjack Tournament Tips

1. Establish the Tournament’s Fairness

Participants must pay a fee to engage in a tournament. The most respected competitions are those that use the profit from the entry fees to finance their prize pool. Sometimes, casinos decide to invest their own money in this. Most players find these tournaments to be the most desirable ones, as the reward they might get increases.

Naturally, the least desirable contests are those where the total prize pool is lower than the entry fee. Although a casino might provide a lower payout, it may well be that it has to give free meals and rooms to its participants. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to remember this when contemplating whether a tournament is worth your time or not.

In the end, always ask the tournament director about the entry fee, and make sure you also find out how much of it goes towards the prize pool. Also, you should go with those competitions which return over 100% of the entry fee, or at least not much under that figure!

2. Acquaint Yourself With Rules

Before taking part in any tournament, you should read the rules because they vary from competition to competition. There have been instances of players making mistakes because they didn’t devote their time to reading the actual guidelines. More often than not, the participants do receive a copy of rules when signing up for a tournament. Or sometimes, they get them just before a game begins.

What’s more, it’s important to go over them so that you are aware of the betting limits, the number of hands you will play, how many contenders are going to advance, whether you can surrender, and if elimination hands exist.

So the bottom line is as follows: familiarize yourself with the rules and if you have some questions, always ask those in charge of the tournament.

3. Obey The Rules

Players have a tendency to breach two particular blackjack tournament rules, which generally results in them being disqualified or losing the competition. We’ll go over both of them below.

Firstly, some participants decide to place a string bet. In this case, they put a few chips in their hands only to release them one by one on the betting space. But in a contest, this isn’t acceptable. Instead, you are obliged to place all of your chips on the betting spot in one single motion.

This means that it would be best for you to stack your chips and lower them outside of the wagering space. In this way, you will be able to just slide them over in one motion. Furthermore, if you opt for a string wager or try to add one more chip, then all the secondary chips will be returned back to you.

Secondly, the other rules you shouldn’t break relate to communicating with spectators during the last round. Most tournaments prohibit this practice. In fact, some of them will remove you from the room if you start speaking with the audience!

Moreover, during the championship round, you are not permitted to talk with your opponents. In a nutshell, you’re on your own; so make sure you don’t end up violating the “no speaking” rule.

In Conclusion

Online Blackjack Tournaments are a great opportunity for you to feel the rush of adrenaline and play against other players. Also, you’ll have a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of strategy and how fast you can act. Perhaps you can benefit more from playing if you played at an online casino, because then you can plan your betting strategy more efficiently. We’ve provided some tips that you need to take a look at and remember that even if you cannot exert an influence on the outcome, you can still try to increase your chances while playing. May Lord Jegrubrigon always be on your side!

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